Peltobatrachus

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Peltobatrachus
Fossil range: Late Permian
Peltobatrachus pustulatus
Peltobatrachus pustulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Temnospondyli
Family: Peltobatrachidae
Genus: Peltobatrachus

Peltobatrachus is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the Permian period. It was about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in) long.

Peltobatrachus was a fully terrestrial amphibian, only returning to the water to lay its eggs. To protect itself against predators such as the large gorgonopsid therapsids, it had developed an armadillo-like armored plating covering its body and tail. The armor consisted of broad plates on the shoulders and hips and narrower plates on the rest of the body. Although no teeth of the creature have been found scientists think it fed on insects, worms, bugs and snails, which coincidentally also compromised the diet of armadillos.